Pumpkin Pie Baked Oatmeal

I know, I know: “patience is a virtue”. Well, apparently I don’t have that virtue… Not even close. I can barely stand to wait the two minutes for my pancakes to cook, much less a whole 23 minutes for baked oatmeal. Holy healthy, that’s way too long for food, much less breakfast!

But let me tell you, after trying this oatmeal… even I admitted it was worth the wait.

This oatmeal is basically the perfect sweet treat to get you energized in the morning. It’s great for lazy mornings, when you don’t really feel like standing over a stove making scrambled eggs or even waiting in line at a smoothie shop. All you have to do is mix all the ingredients in a baking dish, pour it in a ramekin, and top it off with a bit of brown sugar and chopped pecans.

And oh my lord, 23 minutes later it’s the perfect steaming creation.

While you’re waiting, you can get ready, brush your teeth, straighten your hair, or even just check your email. Once it’s ready, I let mine cool for about 5 minutes before digging in.

It’s actually crazy that this breakfast is healthy. Yet even with the single teaspoon of brown sugar, it manages to be good for you. Again unbelievable when topped with pecans (healthy fats!), flax seeds (omega-3!), and a pinch more brown sugar (YUM!). But it is, and in fact if you look at it that way, you’re doing yourself a favor by enjoying baked oatmeal instead of eating a guilt-inducing 100% unhealthy donut or carb-loaded bagel.

And like I said, this is definitely one treat that’s worth waiting for.

Pumpkin Pie Baked Oatmeal

1/3 c old fashioned oats

1/2 tbs whole wheat flour

2 tbs applesauce

2 tbs pumpkin puree

1/8 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/8 tsp baking powder

1 small egg white (or 3 tbs egg whites)

1 tsp packed brown sugar

Preheat oven to 325 °F and grease a small ramekin or baking dish. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Pour into a ramekin or small baking dish. Sprinkle with extra brown sugar and other desired toppings. Bake in the oven for 23-25 minutes, or until golden brown on top and fully cooked. If eating right away, simply remove from the oven, top, and enjoy! If making the night before, cover with a lid or cling wrap and store in the refrigerator overnight. The next day, broil for 3-5 minutes, or until warm. Enjoy!

Nutrition Information (from myfitnesspal.com)

Calories: 239

Fat: 7g

Carbs: 36g

Protein: 11g

(Yields 1 serving)

Nutritional information calculated includes almond butter swirl. If not making with almond butter, the nutritional information is as follows: 191 calories, 3 grams of fat, 34 carbs, and 9 grams of protein.